Ironing board



Ap 1931- ew. GOMBER 1,801,151

IRONING BOARD ATTORNEY April 1931- G. w. GOMBER IRONING BOARD Filed June 12, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Gewye W Gombez;

INVEINTQR Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED s1u mas PATENT OFFICE GEORGE WINFIELD GOMBER, O]? CONYNGHAM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB T A. W.

DBAKE MAN'UFAC'IUBING COMPANY, OF HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPOBA- TION O]? PER N SYLVAN IA IBONING BOABD Applicatloiw. flled Inne 12,

This invention relates to ironing boards, and one of its objects is to construct an ironing board whose legs will open und close automatically under the influence of gravity alone, when the board is hold in tl1e proper positions.

Another object is to provicle an unusually stable supporting structure for an ironing board, whereby a laundress may bear down hard on an iron at either end of the board and yet not tip the board over o1 cause it to wobble.

A further object is to make the supporting legs of the ironing board foldable so as to occupy a minirnum of space.

The invention has various otl1er aims and advantages, many of which will be pointed out in the following description of certain illustrative embodiments 0f the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein are shown for the purposes of illustration only, two 0f the preferred forms 0f the in- Vent1on,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an ironing board constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the under side of the ironing board showing the legs folded; Figure 3 is a view similar to F igure 2, showmg the legs extended;

Figure 4 is a rear end elevation of the ironin board;

igure 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view, showing the, upper ends of two of the legs;

Figure 6- is a. cross section through the sliding connection between two adjacent legs; Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view 0f a modified ironing board construction, wi th the legs folded;

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the l'e s extended;

igure 9 is a fra%mentary side elevat1on of the same ironing oard, partly in section; F igure 10 is an enlargecl detail view showing the pivotal connection between the board and one 0f the outer pair of legs.

Referring more specifically to the drawin there is shown an ironing board 10 of comventional shape and. construction, to the underside of which is secured, near the large end, a metal strap 11 with outturned ends 12 providing supports for a pair of legs 13. Instead 0f the strap 11, any other convenient form of leg attaching means may be used; but whatever the means 'employed, the legs 13 should be pivotally supported so as to swing freely in planeS more or less longitudinal with respect 130 the board; and the points of attachment of the legs should be close to the encl as well as to the side edges 0f the ironing board (as shown in Figure 2), so as to prevent the board from tipping when that end is pressed upon. In F1gure 10 I have disclosed the particular construction o1 ehe pivotal connection between one of the legs 13 and tl1e outturned end of the strap 11. A fixed pivot pin 13a is of a length 130 loosely connect the, two elements to allow the legs to swing longitudinally as well as move to a limited degree transversely.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there are two pairs of legs used, and the four le,qs are so connected that they simultaneously open and close (or fold).

A bracket 14 0r similar element firmly secured to the underside of board 10, pivotally supports the second pair of legs 15, as shown in Figures. 1 and 5, the pivoted encls of these legs heilig 1nuch closer to each other than am the corresponding ends 0f legs 13, as seen in Figure 2. The legs 15 are preferably shorter than the legs 13. The bracket 14 may carry aswingably mounted bar or brace hinge 16 (Figure 5), said bar being movable about an axis transverse relatively to the board, but parallel thereto. One of the fixecl pivot pins 15a loosely connecting the legs 15 to the ends of the bracket 14, is shown in Fig. 5. These pivot pins are mounted and constructecl similarly to the pivot ins 13a of the other legs 13, and provicle or the same movements. A pair of crossed links 01 braces 17 are pivoted ab their inner encls on the brace hinge 16 and are also -.pivotally connected at their outer ends to Ie'gs 15. Preferably the length of each bf the braces 17 is greater than half the length of legs 15 (Figure 2). One 0f the braces 17 may be provided with a strap 17a spaced slightly therefrom so as to guide and hold the other brace thereto and prevent lateral separation of the braces.

board. A comparison of Figures 2 and 3 will show the transverse movemerits of the legs When moved frorn the folded to the extended position. In the folded position legs 15 lie fla.t against the underside of the board with their free ends nearly touching (Figure 2), und preferably the length of legs 15 is chosen so that their ends do not extend beyond the end of the board. As the legs 15 are moved away from the board, the links 17 cause the free ends of said legs to spread, end ultimately the ends of legs 15 are farther apart than the ends of legs 13, as liigure 4 clearly shows.

The links 17 in connection with the hinge 16 constitute means connected to the legs for causing;the legs t0 spread and contract when the legs are opened and closed. The pivotal connections of the legs 13 and 15 should be so constructed as 130 permit the lege to move laterally in order 150 provide iii:i' the spreading and contraction of the legs.

In order to move the four legs simultane 4 ously, a sliding connection is provided joining each leg 13 to ehe adjacent leg 15. The pr6ferred form of sliding connectien is shown hast in Figure 6, and corisists of two slides 18 each embracing three sides' of leg 13, end extending art way around the fourth side. A holt 19 o1 fhe equivalent may be employed for the purpose of securing slide 18 120 leg 15 at the proper point, which is shown in the drawings to be nearer the pivoted end of leg 15 than to the opposite end. The holt 19 holds the slid 18 so that the leg 15 may swing about the holt es an axis, und

' the slide move along the leg 13, when ehe legs are folded er opened. Projectingfrom the inner sides of legs 13 are stops 20 (Figure 6) which prevent movement of the slides'upwardly on legs 13 beyond a certain point.

Because adjacent legs 13 end 15 are Connected, ancl as each leg is movable inwardly end outwardly with respect t0 the ironing board as well as being swingable about a pivotal element, the folding of inne r legs 15 will cause the folding of outer legs 13; und if the parts are proportioned as shown in the drawings, the four legs when foldecl willlie flat against the board with the lower ende nearly touching and adjacent legs nea1rly in contact throughout theirl&angths (Figure 2).

' Expressed in other language, the four legs converge toward a common point. In this folded.position, the entire lengths of ehe legs are comprehended within the limits of theironing board, so that the flded board oc'Ci1pies 71 minimum of space. The links or braces 17 am preferably flat so that they do not add to the thickness of the folded board. My invention thus provides an ironing boarcl which Will occupy a small space When not 1n use, a feature advantageous alike to shippers end housewives.

In order to strengthen the legs end prevent wem, a sheathing 21 cf metal may partially or wholly encase each leg 13, and a similar sheathing 22 may be provided for legs 15. The sheathings or reinforcements 21, 22 are not at all necessary however.

Figures 7, 8 und 9 illustrate an alternative form of ironing board, wherein the legs 13 are pivoted to the board 10 by a hinge which provides a slidable movement being joined thereto at their upper ends by eyebolts 23 fast to the legs 13, and slidable on rods 24 s'ecured 130 the board near one end thereof und extending longitudinally.

As seen in Figure 9, the parts of the rods 24 011 which the heads of eye-bolts 23 slide have an inclination relative to the boa.rd so that the ends remote from the end of the board are farther from the boa.rd than are the other ende. A cross piece 25 may be used as an abutment for the ends of legs 13, es shown in Figures 8 and 9.

'1o hold the short legs 15 to the board an d yet allow s reading end folding, a hinge 26 1s provide the construction of whieh will be obvious from the drawings. The legs 15 may Swing longitudinally of the board and may spread end contract transversely the'reof es previously described. Links 01: braces 27 are pivotally conneeted at each end t0 the legs 15 and to the brace hinge 28 mount'ed on board 10 inclependently cf the leg hinge 26.

This modified nonstruction permits the upper ends of legs 13 oo slide relative 130 the board end hence a sliding connection between adjacent legs 13, 15 is not useful. In-

In bot-h forms of the invention, there is a pivotal connection between the legs end aslicling connection 01 means for the legs.

The ironing b0ard of Figures 7, 8 end 9 has the.same attributes as the previously described boaxd, but is obviously not quite so simple in construction.

The ironing bards as above described have several important advantages over others which have been marketed, one of which is that the legs open end fold automatically under the in uence 0f gravity alone. When a Figure 2), all that it is necessary de to extend the lege is to hold the board horizontally with the legs underneath, whereupon laundress desires to use one of my ironing hoards (which is presumably folded as in all four of the le simultaneously descend and at the same t1me spread out, automatically assuming the position shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4. When the board is no longer needed, the laundress merely raises the board into a vertical position, w1th the large end uppermost, and the four legs simultaneously close am]. fold with the greatest rapidity. I believe it to be broadly new to 'provide a four-legged ironing board whose legs are extencled and folded merely by changing the position of the board proper.

The great advantage of the four legs is the largely increased stability.. Most ironing boards are supported 0n three legs, and tilt whenever the laundress bears down harcl 0n an iron, wl1ich is a source 0f great anno ance. Even four-legged boards as ordinari y built Will tilt easily. All four of the leg-s of my ironinv board spread outwardly when extended, an the lower ends of all the legs are preferably disp0sed farther apart than the width of the. ironing board. It is preferrecl that thejshorter pa1r of legs 15 have the greater spread, as seen in Figure 4.

An ironing boardconstructed as shown in the drawings is) almdst impossible to tip over; an average sized adult may sit 011 either end of such a board and it will not tip nor will it swa when an iron is pressed down ha1d along tiefidges of the board.

My invention obvio1isly is not restrictecl to the illustrative forms shown in the drawing, and I reserve the right to make all changes which com'e within the scope of the appended claims.

While the inventionhas been described as an improvement in ironing boards, and this is the s ecial purpose for which the device was ma e, there are other foldable structures, such as tables, t0 which the invention may be appliecl with equal success, and I reserve the right to use the invention for purposes other than ironing boards.

Having described one embodiment of my invention, without limiting myself thereto, what I claim as my invent1on and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A board having four legs arranged in pairs, one pair of le being shorter than the other pair, means or pivotally connecting all of the legs by loose pivots t0 one face of the board, means for pivotally connecting eac h of the shorter legs to one 0f the longer legs, and meansseparate from the pivots for coimecting the shorter legs to the board,

- whereby to cause said legs=to automatically sp1"ead outwardly when moving to their open osition.

2. A board supported by two pairs of legs, said pairs being independently pivoted to one face of the board at spaced points thereon, means whereby the legs are causedl to spread laterally with respect to the board when opened and to contact inwardly when foldecl against the board, the legs of one pair being sh0rter than the legs 0f the other air and folding within said other pair,the egs of both pairs having a spread exceeding the widtll1xo]: the board.

3. oard su orted b two airs of le s hingecl to one F y p g points, the legs of one pair being shorter than the legs 0f the other pair, ancl the pivots of the shorter gair being c1oser together transversely of t e board than the pivots 0f the other pair, and means whereby the legs of both pairs when extended have a sple2id exceeding the width of the board, the shorter legs having a greater s read.

4. A board supporte by two pairs of swingably mountecl legs, the points of con nection of one pair of legs being near one end of the board, the other pair of legs being piv otally connected 130 the board at an intermediate point thereof and foldable within the first-mentioned pair, ineans connecting one leg of each pair to the adjacent leg of the other pair whereby the legs simultaneously open und fold, and means whereby the two pairs of legs are caused to s read laterally of the board when opened an contract when the board is closed.

5. A board supported by two pairs of swingablymounted le s, the two pairs being unequal in length, ti1e longer pair being hinged near one end of the board, the shorter pair being hinged at an intermediate point 0f the board, and means whereby both pairs of legs are spread simultaneously when unfglcled and the sl1orter legs spread farther apart than the longer legs.

6. A board having four legs pivotally mounted in pairs 0n one face thereof, links connecting the legs of one pair to the board whereby the legs are made to spread when moved away from the board and are caused to contract and are folded together when moved against the board, and means connecting ad jacent legs o:f opposite pairs whereby all four move simultaneousl A board having Kour legs pivotally mounted to swing in pairs, means secured to the legs of one pair and slidable on the legs of the other pair Whereb adjacent legs of opposite pairs are mova ly connected together and am crossed when in open position, and crossed links pivotally connected at their ends to one pair of legs and hingedl mounted upon the boarcl at their other en s whereby all the legs spread when opened or unfolded and are contracted when moved against the board.

8. A board having four legs mounted u on the same side thereo swing free y in planeslongitudinal with respect 150 the board and so that their free ends maymovetowarcl and away from each other when the legs are swung, links mounted to Fivt tally ace of the board at spaced' so as to swing with one pair cf legsand also connected 1 to said legs to cause spreading and contracting thereof, and means fast t the sam1e pair 0f legs and slidable 0n the other pair wlhereby all four legs movia simultaneously. 5 9. A board having four supporting legs which extend in pairs'in opposite directions When opened and Which close by swinging in the same' direction, means swingable on an axis transverse to the board and parallel thereto, links piv otally connected at spaced* points upon said means, said links also beim connected pivotally to a pai'r of the legs, an means connecting said pair of legs with the othet pair so that they are in crossed relation with in open position and whereby all the legs close and open together.

10. A board having four supporting legs which extend in pairs in opposite directions When opened ancl which cl )se by swinging in the same direction, means swingable on an axis transverse t0 the board ancl parallel thereto, links pivotally connected als s aced points upon said means, said links also eing connected pivotally 130 a pair of the legs, and

means fast upon each of the legs to whieh the links are connected und slidable along the other legs whereby the acljacerit legs of opposite pairs are connected t0 move simultaneously and are maintained in crossed relation when in open position.

' 11. A board having four supporting legs, means for pivotally connecting one pair of ehe legs to One end of the board, means for pivotally connecting the other pair of legs to an intermediate point of ehe board, theans for pivotally and slidably connecting one leg 0:E euch pair to the adjacent leg of the other pair, anal links each pivotally connected to the board at one end and to the second-mentioned 49 pair of legs at the other end below the connection of t-he last-mentioned means.

12. A board having four supporting legs, means f01 pivotall connecting one pair of the legs to one en' 0f the board, meams f01 pivotally connecting tl1e other pair of legs t0 an intermediaoe point of the board, means for pivotally and slidably connecting one leg of each pair to the adjacent leg of the other pair, the second-mentioned pair of legs being shorter than the other pair und foldable within the same, and links each pivotally connected to the board at one end and 150 tl1e secondmentioned pair 0f legs at ehe othem end, whereby all four legs are foldable as a unit incl when opened are caused to assume a spreadout positi0n, with t-he pair 01'? shorter legs extended farther outward than the other an. In testimony, tl1at I claim tl1e foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed mv signature.

GEORGE WINFIELD GMBER. 

